Laocoön and the Seated Scribe: Contrasting Masterpieces of Ancient Art

The Laocoön Group (c. 50 BC)

This monumental sculpture, created around 50 BC, was commissioned for Nero's Domus Aurea. It is attributed to three Rhodian sculptors: Agesander, Polydorus, and Athenodorus.

Subject and Style

The group represents the tragic punishment of the Trojan priest Laocoön and his two sons. Having offended Apollo, they are attacked by snakes sent to suffocate them. The work powerfully reflects the violence and imbalance characteristic of Late Hellenism.

It was designed for frontal contemplation. The three participating sculptors sought to contrast the tremendous muscular upheaval of Laocoön with the more classical anatomies of the children.

Discovery and Influence

• Discovery: The sculpture was discovered in 1506.
• Renaissance Impact: Renaissance men admired its dramatic composition and its embodiment of the ideal of antiquity.
• Mannerism: Mannerist artists were inspired by its dynamic movement and the linea serpentinata (serpentine line) position.
• Post-Tridentine Art: The Laocoön served as a model for representing Christian martyrs, reflecting both physical pain and the mental suffering of witnessing their children fall victim to a cruel fate.

Location and Material

The sculpture is located in the Louvre Museum in Paris. The material used is polychromatic white limestone.

Characteristics of Ancient Egyptian Sculpture

Egyptian sculpture and painting share several features that distinguish them from the creations of other contemporary civilizations.

Distinction in Egyptian Statuary

A key distinction exists between two types of statuary:

1. Official Statuary: Made from heavy-duty materials, characterized by a lack of naturalism.
2. Non-Official Statuary: Dedicated to portraying characters from other social strata, usually executed with more affordable and less durable materials, resulting in a more realistic style.

The Role of the Scribe

The office of the scribe was essential in a culture where writing played a crucial role in organizing the Pharaonic state. In fact, even the artists themselves were known as the "scribes of the contour."

The Seated Scribe (Found 1850)

This specific example depicts a grown man sitting on the floor with legs crossed, holding the board used for writing on papyrus. It demonstrates realistic anatomical features, especially on the trunk and face, removed from all idealism.

• Material: Executed on polychromatic white limestone.
• Coloration: The skin (men typically having a darker color than women) and hair are colored.
• Eyes: The eyes are inlaid with a rock crystal base and copper, granting them an expressive power generally lacking in official sculptures.
• Discovery Location: Found in Saqqara in 1850.